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Major and Minor in GEOPHYSICS

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Major

Minor

Honors Program

Concentration in Geophysics for Physicists

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Funded research opportunities for undergraduates!
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Major

A major in Geophysics provides a solid background in the essentials of math, physics, and geology, together with knowledge in geophysics pertinent to resource exploration, global geodynamics, and environmental problems. Students are prepared for either an immediate professional career in the resources and environmental industries or future graduate study.

Courses listed below are required for the B.S. degree in Geophysics. A written report on original research or an honor's thesis is also required by participation in three quarters of Research Seminar (the Geophysics 185 series) during the senior year. Seniors in Geophysics who expect to undertake graduate work are urged to take the Graduate Record Examination as early as is convenient in their final undergraduate year.

Pre-requisite classes or sequences
	Math 19, 20, 21: Calculus, or equivalent series Math 53: Ordinary Differential Equations Physics 41: Mechanics Physics 110: Intermediate Mechanics Physics 120: Intermediate E&M, or EE 141: Engineering Electromagnetics Chem 31A: Chemical Principles I

Fundamental Geophysics (or GES) courses
	Geophys 102: Geosphere, or GES 1: Fundamentals of Geology Geophys 150: General Geophysics, or Geophys 190: Environmental Geophysics Geophys 201: Frontiers of Geophysical Research

Additional courses
	Three additional approved upper level (numbered 100 or higher) Geophysics lecture courses Three additional approved upper level Earth Sciences lecture courses 6 units of Geophys 185: Research Seminar Series (includes the WIM requirement)

Download departmental program proposal form

In addition, prospective Majors must log on to Axess as part of the declaration process.

Honors Program

The department also offers a program leading to a B.S. Degree in Geophysics with Honors. The guidelines are:

Selection of a research project, either theoretical or experimental, that has the approval of a faculty adviser in geophysics.
Submission of a proposal to the department, which will decide on its suitability as an honors project.
Course credit for the project is assigned by the adviser within the unit framework of Geophysics 205.
The decision as to whether a given independent study project does or does not merit an award of honors shall be made jointly by the department and the student's adviser. This decision shall be based on the quality of both the work and the student's other work in earth sciences.
The work done on the honors program may not be used as a substitute for regularly required courses.

Minor

A minor in Geophysics provides students with a general knowledge of geophysics in addition to a background in the related fields of physics, mathematics, and geology. The minor provides a convenient venue for undertaking interdisciplinary investigations in such diverse areas as earth systems, public policy and archaeology. The following courses are required:

Required Courses
	GES 1 : Fundamentals of Geology, or Geophys 102: Geosphere Geophys 201: Frontiers of Geophysical Research Geophys 150 : General Geophysics, or Geophys 190: Environmental Geophysics Math 41: Single Variable Calculus or Math 19,20, 21 Physics 41: Mechanics Two approved Geophysics courses of 3 units each

Download departmental program proposal form

In addition, prospective minors must download, complete, and file the Registrar's Major-Minor Course Approval Form.

Coterminal B.S./ M.S. Program

The department also offers a coterminal program. Interested individuals should check with a member of the department faculty for details.

Concentration in Geophysics for Physics Majors

Students can now take a concentration in Geophysics as part of their B.S. Degree in Physics. To complete the Geophysics Concentration, students include four geophysics courses in their degree program, or three courses plus a thesis. More information on the concentration is available on the Physics department website, or contact Simon Klemperer.

Application Procedure for B.S.

Prospective Undergraduate Applicants please visit the Office of Under-graduate Admission for information and to request an application.


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